Historic Time Travel

Imagine forty or fifty soldier boys each with a pail of water on the ground before him, sousing and spattering and scrubbing away for dear life. Soap and towels too. Every man jack of them looks as if he were enjoying the wash immensely, and also the novelty of having his picture taken. The big fellow in the center of the picture is laughing heartily.

American infantry troops dressed in field uniforms of the Spanish-American War can be seen close to the foreground of the camera position. Three companies of men, in columns of fours, march by the camera. In the background are railroad passengers, indicating the film was photographed on a rail siding area

From the Biograph picture catalogue: Gen. Frederick D. Grant and Gen. A.S. Burt [commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment] returning from Mt. Ariat [sic], at the head of the famous 25th Infantry. Sponsor: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Producer: N/A. Year: 1900. Length: 00:00:53. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

From the Biograph picture catalogue: 55 feet. Of the thousand and more men who left New York for the Cuban Campaign, scarcely three hundred were able to shoulder their rifles to march before the Biograph camera at Camp Wikoff. The picture shows many of the companies reduced to seven or eight men, and the whole regiment, rank and file is in a sad condition.

This 1:22 minute documentary clip was filmed on September 5, 1899, when Admiral Dewey stopped off at Gibraltar on his way to New York City and the first of his homecoming celebrations. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1899. Length: 00:01:25. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

On Riverside Drive; showing Naval Brigade of North Atlantic Fleet, followed by Schley, Sampson, Miles, and other celebrities. The Admiral is in carriage with Mayor Van Wyck. Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1899. Length: 00:01:21. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

Showing Committee of Arrangements' visit to the Admiral on board the U.S. Cruiser Olympia. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1899. Length: 00:01:27. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

The gallant and much admired Admiral George Dewey was a key figure in the Spanish-American War. In this 1:15 minute clip, he is shown on October 2, 1899, taking gracious leave of the Washington Committee delegation aboard the magnificent Olympia. The legendary Admiral is depicted to full advantage, and this clip conveys a lot of the renowned character of the man.

From the thick underbrush where the Filipinos are massed comes volley after volley. They are making one of those determined stands that marks Caloocan as the bloodiest battle of the Filipino rebellion. Suddenly, with impetuous rush, Funston's men appear. They pause but for a moment, to fire, reload and fire. The color bearer falls, but the standard is caught up by brave Sergeant Squires and waves.

A splendid scene, showing a large number of curious Filipino boats being worked on the Pasig River near Manila by natives. The picture is unusually fine photographically. Sponsor: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Producer: N/A. Year: 1900. Length: 00:00:25. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

Gen. Franklin Bell's famous mule pack train swimming the Agno River in Northern Luzon. This is one of the most notable incidents of the Philippine War. Sponsor: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Producer: N/A. Year: 1900. Length: 00:00:53. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

As they appeared in New York on Saturday, January 21 [sic], 1899, on their return from active service in the Philippines. The picture is taken as they cross Broadway, Union Square, north. First come the mounted police, proud and prancing, then the band, then the famous Astor Battery, marching twenty-four abreast.

Company F, 1st Ohio Volunteers, initiating a new man. Nineteen times he bounces in the blanket, and each toss is funnier than the last one. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1898. Length: 00:00:37. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

This 1:50 clip was taken at Key West on March 27, 1898 and shows the ceremonial honoring of the some of the 266 soldiers who died on the Battleship Maine. The ceremony has distinct Southern undertones and depicts the flag-covered coffins being venerated with full military honors as survivors of the Maine disaster stand by. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Year: 1898

The Filipinos execute a flank movement and re-occupy the trenches, cutting off the advance guard of Americans. The rebel flag waves over the ditch and they defend their position bravely. A fierce charge by our soldiers makes them give way and they scatter in all directions. The officer in command pays dearly for his desperate sortie.

Schley's flagship at close range, showing shot hole in the middle of funnel, near deck. She flies a frayed and tattered battle flag. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1898. Length: 00:00:35. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

"The steamer "Mascotte" has reached her dock at Port Tampa, and the 2d Battalion of Colored Infantry is going ashore. Tide is very high, and the gang plank is extra steep; and it is laughable to see the extreme caution displayed by the soldiers clambering down. The commanding officer struts on the wharf, urging them to hurry.

From Edison films catalog: From the upper windows of a ruined mill the Cubans fire at a scouting party of Spaniards, who return the volley. Fine smoke effects. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1898. Length: 00:00:35. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

A group of escaped reconcentrados, saved from the fate of starvation imposed by the Butcher, Weyler. They stand in line waiting, each man with his tin dish and cup. One expects to see just such men as these, after the centuries of Spanish oppression and tyranny. As they come forward, their walk, even, is listless and lifeless. The picture affords an exceedingly interesting racial character study.

Men carrying rifles and bedrolls boarding ship via gangway. Sponsor: Edison Manufacturing Co. Producer: N/A. Year: 1898. Length: 00:00:58. Audio: Silent. Color: Black & White

An incident of the Battle of the Trenches at Candabar [sic]. The enemy threw up a high earth embankment during the night, and are defending it with great stubbornness. The pits are crowded with Filipinos, who fire volley after volley. The artillery of the Americans plays havoc with their ranks and they fall back, leaving many dead.

A magnificent view of the Prado, from the balcony of the United States Club. The procession is headed by a troop of horsemen. Prominent among them is General Lee. Then come the soldiers, file after file and company after company; filling the broad avenue from curb to curb and as far as the eye can reach with marching men. It is the Seventh Army Corps.

This picture was taken in front of Gen. Wheeler's headquarters at Camp Wikoff during Gen. Alger's tour of inspection of the camp. The two distinguished military men are seen overlooking the immense camp ground, and then turning and walking toward the camera. The negative is very fine photographically, and the portraiture unexcelled.

Taken during the land parade in honor of Admiral Dewey, just before the turn into 72nd Street, with Grant's tomb and decorated residences in the background. This entire series of pictures [of the Dewey land parade] has a very high photographic quality, and the various organizations appear at their best.

In an interesting variation on the theme of war, this 3:02 minute footage contains a beautifully rendered and depicted song in six scenes. The story is of a hero who leaves for war as a private, is promoted to the rank of captain for bravery in service, meets the girl of his choice (a Red Cross nurse on the field) and finally returns home triumphantly.